We recently held our annual conference Engage – Growth for good and an integral part of this was our awards, where we got to celebrate exceptional individuals and recognise their outstanding achievements within our industry.

So, here are our winners for 2024. Congratulations and thanks again for their time and dedication to us and you, our adviser community. Their efforts not only drive our industry forward but also inspire others to strive for greatness.

Advice professional of the future award.

Awarded to an up-and-coming adviser (less than 10-years’ industry experience), committed to ongoing education, industry involvement and finding ways to innovate to build a modern financial advice business.

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2024 winner – Josh Cuttance, Share NZ.

Josh is an industry trailblazer who has leveraged social media as a powerful tool to connect, engage, and elevate his professional presence and has become a role model within the adviser community. His dedication extends to membership of our Adviser council and Advice masters, as well as various industry boards like FANZ where he actively contributes to the broader adviser network.

Cary Veenhof award.

In honour of a former Fidelity Life Business Manager who was cherished by many, this award is given to an adviser who demonstrates strong values, shows respect to insurance partners, and consistently delivers outstanding customer service.

Engage 2024 Awards Winner Cary Veenhof Andrea Reid

2024 winner – Andrea Reid, Aliya Brokers Ltd.

Andrea has dedicated her career to supporting New Zealanders with over 25-years of industry experience, including setting up her own FAP with her partner Sanjay over the last 3-years. Her dedication to customers is demonstrated through her outstanding customer loyalty scores. She is a delight to work with, engages with respect and carries herself with grace.

Team of the year award.

Awarded to an advice business with an outstanding strategy, brand and strong leadership team, driving excellent advice solutions.

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2024 winners – Financial Independence.

This team exemplifies dedication, collaboration, and community spirit. They provide outstanding advice with specialized support across operations, claims, and customer outcomes and have invested in building a strong, supportive and warm team culture.

In addition, 2 highly coveted awards were presented to our very special winners.

Lifetime award.

This award recognises a long-standing adviser (more than 20-years’ experience) who has shown a strong commitment and dedication in giving back to the industry, and celebrates the impact they have made over the course of their distinguished career.

2024 winner – Grant Maddison, Maddison Financial Services.

Grant’s incredible journey in the insurance industry spans over 3 decades. Starting as an adviser with AMP in 1991, to guiding 20 advisers and establishing AMP south before starting a new adventure in Queenstown.

Grant has built a reputation as a trusted adviser blending professionalism and warmth. In supporting customers across Queenstown, Central Otago, and Southland, he’s respected for his expertise, commitment and fostering long standing relationships. Grant is also a proud member of Financial Advice New Zealand and is a cornerstone of trust and excellence in our industry.

Gordon Watson award.

Named after Fidelity Life’s founder, this award is presented to an adviser who champions Fidelity Life’s customer led values, demonstrates remarkable achievements in driving business success, and showcases significant professional and personal growth with a commitment to improving themselves and those around them.

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2024 winner – Brett Pearce, Pearce Financial Services.

Brett is no stranger to this award, this being the 6^th time he has won! His extensive industry experience with a strong customer focus, is illustrated in his consistently leading customer loyalty scores.

Brett is consistently described by his customers as professional, prepared, knowledgeable and able to find solutions to meet their needs. He is always there for his customers at claim time, and he is highly regarded by our internal claims and underwriting teams.

Brett upholds the values of the award as someone who ensures that our customers are appropriately protected with expert knowledge and excellent service.

Business Manager of the year.

And finally, we also want to celebrate and recognise outstanding individuals in our team who you, our adviser community, are in contact with every day. They demonstrate growth, commitment, a positive attitude and are willing to go that extra mile.

This year we have 2 winners!

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2024 winner – Michelle Vaughan.

This year, we’re thrilled to recognize Michelle whose achievements and dedication have set her apart.

In just her 2^nd year with us, she has drawn on her 16-years of experience to deliver outstanding results. Midway through the year, she expanded her role to cover the Nelson/Marlborough region, maintaining strong relationships and receiving glowing feedback.

Her internal contributions, including her role in the E-App build team and successful training webinars, showcase her commitment and expertise. She has delivered strong outcomes and grown as a business mentor and trusted peer.

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2024 winner – Kenny Kaushish.

Our 2^nd winner is someone who goes above and beyond to support his advisers.

We receive consistent and unprompted positive feedback from his network, which has coined the phrase “everyone loves Kenny”. We hear words like responsive, easy to work with, knowledgeable. This is all despite managing one of the largest panels in the country.

He has also supported internal initiatives like the Auckland PA Summit, E-App, numerous webinars and supports the broader team. He has an impressive ability to drive outcomes and all this while remaining calm, supportive, responsive and positive.

Congratulations and thanks all our award winners, for their time and dedication to us and you, our adviser community. Their efforts not only drive our industry forward but also inspire others to strive for greatness.

And to get a taste of the Engage 2024 – Growth for good conference, see some of the fantastic photos from our awards celebration and the overall conference below.